Tumbleweeds

This is not a doctored photo! This is the problem with Russian Thistle. It THRIVES in the arid Sonoita Grasslands! Each and every single plant carries 250,000 seeds. And, you know why it is called Tumbleweed. Those suckers can rock and roll for miles. In the fall they spill their seed all along their merry tumble. Hence, my tumbleweed fence. I guess I have a fallback crop plant if I ever need one. The only problem will be finding a market for it. Any ideas?

Russian Thistle

Does anyone know the common name for this pain in the neck plant that reproduces in my vineyard faster than the field mice and rabbits? The first spring I saw the cute little green plants popping up in every little wrinkle of dirt. I was so excited because I thought it would be a beautiful wild flower (I do have many of those, really) that I could transplant in the flower garden I was planning. I asked a plant expert the name of the flower and he replied that it was tumbleweed, a very invasive plant that was brought into our country on either Russian rye seeds or flax seeds by Ukrainian farmers. I'm sure that expert and his cohorts had a fine chuckle that day. Heck, I bet they still occasionally bring it up. "Remember that lady who.... Ha! Ha! Ha!"

I know what you're thinking. Tumbleweeds. Romance. The Wild West, Ghost Towns, "Get Along Little Doggie", Shoot-Outs in front of saloons. All very exciting. Why do I not see it that way? I will say more in my next blog!

2008 Planting!

As soon as the May 3rd Wine and Farm Festival was over it was time gear up for our spring vine planting. Even with the problems such as the auger breaking, the irrigation not working the way it is supposed to and a frost at the beginning of planting week, we got all 3000 vines in the ground. It is always a rewarding feeling to stand back and survey all the work after the fact! Now comes the hard part, waiting and watching the vines sprout and hopefully, grow!

We have a winner!

Many of the visitors who attended our Wine and Farm Festival last weekend filled out a brief survey to let us know how they heard about the festival. Doing so entered them into a raffle for a free bottle of Canelo Hills wine.

Mark Colwell of Sierra Vista was our lucky winner! Thanks to all who filled out entry forms; we found the responses very informative.

Fun Was Had by All!

Saturday was our second annual wine and farm festival. This year the Wind Gods were merciful and sent only an occasional blast our way. We had a good crowd including the Dehners who were our first customers at last year's festival. Tim and I were delighted to see their familiar faces among the crowds of new visitors.

Wine and Farm Festival this Saturday!

Our second annual Wine and Farm Festival is this Saturday! May 3rd has crept up on us, but everything is in order. My parents need to spend Friday re-arranging the tasting room to make space for all our vendors (the indoor farmer's market will feature many new farmers and artists this year!) and then we'll be ready for everyone to arrive on Saturday morning.

The winemakers (Tim, along with Bob Johnson from Colibri and Rod Keeling from Keeling-Schaefer) will be outdoors under a big tent. Under the tent you'll also be able to buy delicious lunches from The Gathering Grounds Cafe in Patagonia. And you can meet Mike and Linda Woods's alpacas from Square Top Ranch. It will be a wonderful spring day in Sonoita, so bring your friends and family on down to the festival.

See you Saturday!


Emma and Cassie are ready to host the festival

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Wine making and grape farming are in large part a long series of repetitive tasks.

Preparing 3 acres for planting – move tractor, line up augur over mark for next plant, drop augur, dig hole, life augur, move tractor, line up augur over mark for next plant . . repeat 3000 times.





Final pruning and tying up of plants for new season – move to plant, make a final few pruning cuts, secure cordon to fruiting wire with a clip here, here, here, here . . ., move to next plant . . . . . 3000 times.





Racking wine, testing samples (including tasting samples), bottling, labeling, reshuffling and moving boxes of wine, cleaning the tasting room.

I guess it only appeals to a certain type of person. Winery friends listen to their latest music mixes to pass the time. Joan and I use the time to think, ponder, and generally let our minds drift and wander. If we are working together we use the time to solve our own and the world’s problems.

This year and next year and next year and . . . . .